perfect match

1 hour ago, harryfat1 said:

I admire your perseverance.  If it was up to lazy old me, I would never have gone into the water in the first place.

 

Yeah, those blue pathways make watching in the beach area like walking on a regular walkway. Do they get super hot on the feet in the summer heat as the sun warms it up?

Harry, it wasn’t perseverance as much as it was my love for being in the ocean and the fact that I swim better than I walk! Swimming in the ocean is very definitely my happy place. You might think that since I live in Florida I’d have close but, easy access to the beach and the ocean. We live in Lake County, aptly named for the number of lakes you have to drive around to get anywhere you want to go. From our house it does take a certain amount of perseverance to get to the beach. In FLL we were staying right by the beach so as lame as I was  it was not going to stop me from getting into the ocean! 
 

Sorry, I don’t know if the blue walkways get hot. I never saw any blue walkways. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they did get hot. The sand on most of our beaches definitely does get hot so I usually have some sort of beach shoes or flip flops to get me across the sand.

9 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

 

 

 

At $600+ per night during the Christmas week, it was way above my budget but it was a “backup” plan to visit for the day if it was raining that day and not possible to go to Hollywood Beach, we would have gone there to check out the guitar hotel/casino area.

 

I had the same contingency plan to head over to see the Hard Rock Casino/Hotel on our last trip to South Florida. Like you, we never managed to make it there

It’s always so hard to leave the fur babies! 
 

I love your itinerary. Can’t wait to follow along on your cruise. 🛳️ 

52 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

I appreciate these blue runners at various sections of the beach.  Makes it easier to walk on

I certainly would have appreciated those blue walkways during our FLL trip just before my second hip replacement followed by both knee replacements. It felt like I was walking in quicksand. I was bone on bone in all three joints with little left to hold them in place. It broke my poor little heart to be unable to walk on that beach but it was so painful I just couldn’t do it. The romantic walk on the beach with DH that I was hoping for that evening wasn’t meant to be.
 

On a different day I did manage to get down to the water in a spot where the beach wasn’t quite as wide as where you were and go for a swim. That went well - until I tried to get out of the water and kept getting knocked over by the waves! I finally stopped laughing at my predicament long enough to get my timing with the incoming waves right and managed to get out unassisted. 😂  Ah, the memories! 🤣

As I’m reading this report, I’m remembering how much we enjoyed our cruise on Ruby Princess. I’m thinking that was back in 2014 in an aft balcony. With Princess now sending a ship to us here in Port Canaveral, I’ve been thinking it’s about time for another Princess cruise. I had been hoping they would send us a ship we hadn’t already cruised on. It shouldn’t be hard, I thought, since we’ve only cruised on two, Ruby and Caribbean. Nothing at all against either ship, I just wanted one we hadn’t been on yet. We’re getting Caribbean Princess. This review and all of your beautiful ship pictures now have me seriously considering booking CB while she’s here. 
 

We have been to Grand Cayman several times, both on cruises and land vacations. We have enjoyed visits to both Guy Harvey’s shop and The Boathouse Grill, dinner in our case at the Boathouse. It was nice to revisit those places through your review and pictures.

On 1/14/2024 at 9:14 PM, budmeister said:

Aqua show seating all had backs to the bleacher type seating. I think maybe another ship did not. However it was cancelled  3 times or more. So I did not see the show.

Since I first heard that Wonder only had benches in the AquaTheater I’ve been wondering how I would be able to sit through the show without a back rest! I still think the chairs would probably be more comfortable, but I’m sure the benches are cheaper and they can squish more people into each row! 😱 At least my arthritic back will be happy to have a backrest! 
 

Thank you very much for your review. We’re on Wonder in September and we’re excited to be sailing on her. Thanks again @OCSC Mike for convincing me to give Wonder a try! 
 

Thank you, @budmeister for your review and all the great information about the shows and food that you shared. 

On 1/14/2024 at 11:24 PM, little britain said:

You could see sea turtles 🐢 as soon as you docked - they were about 2ft in diameter.

Sandy beaches, loads of fish 🐠.. sadly no underwater photos as “someone” didn’t close the underwater camera 📷 properly so it’s now waterlogged !

Too bad your underwater camera got waterlogged. I would have loved to see your pictures. I have never had mine leak, but there have been a couple of times that I failed to put the camera on the correct underwater setting so the pictures I took did not come out very well. Colors and clarity were way off. 

Another over packer checking in here! DH is too. I like having choices and the ability to be flexible with what I’m wearing when my plans change as they always seem to do. Also, it never fails that if I do manage to pack the minimum clothing items inevitably one of those basic items manages to become unwearable at the worst possible moment during my trip. 
 

About that GPS of yours doing strange things, we spent a week this past fall in Weston, FL, just southwest of FLL. Right off the bat, as soon as we got into the area my normally very reliable GPS went crazy! I decided it must be haunted 👻 or something. It often had my location blocks away from where it actually was. It sent me the long way around to get places like yours did. It completely missed telling or showing me highway exits that I needed to take. They weren’t new highways or exits either. It was set to give me spoken directions. Sometimes it did, sometimes it wouldn’t say a word, the list went on and on. It’s still no entirely back to normal. I had to resort to using maps to get around! 🤣

We rented bikes and rode that same bike path along Hollywood Beach. It was fun, but you’re right about a lot of people not watching where they were going. It wasn’t a crowded day either. We still had fun and were able to cover a lot more territory than we would have if we had walked.

I liked your tip about scanning the QR code for the shuttle to get a better price. We have seen sailing out of Port Canaveral lately which we just drive our own car to, but l’ll remember to look for that on the next trip where we have to fly into the port.

2 hours ago, Betsynh said:

A few more fun things to report: we summon an elevator to head to dinner and there was a piano and singer serenading us on the way to deck 4. Hilarious!

I think I must be one of the only people who don’t like the roving piano player. I have  replacement knees and hips which work very well for me most of time - until they don’t and stairs are not an option for me. Inevitably, that’s when the piano player is in  the elevator just when I need it the most. It’s bad enough having too wait for an elevator hen it is full of other passengers as they often are, but having to wait or be crammed in or wait got the piano player is not ok with me. Besides, the elevator is not exactly the best venue to listen to piano music. Moi also don’t like the piano player blocking narrow, congested hallways during high traffic times. 
 

16 hours ago, Betsynh said:

I’m a big chicken so I’ve only done it when we’re docked! 

DH and I are both thrill seekers so going on the North Star while the ship is moving is no problem for us. Besides, with my mobility issues eliminating many thrills for me it is something I can still safely do.

Thank you for a great review! I really enjoyed cruising along with you and your awesome family. 

I wasn’t sure if that was you or one of your sons on iFly. I was hoping it was you! I did it and not only survived, I loved it! I did have some sore muscles the next day, you a good swim at Coco Cay the next day worked the soreness out nicely. I may be a lot older now than I used to be, but the thrill seeker in me is still alive and well. I have cut down some on the thrill seeking activities I take on these days. No death wish here. 

I didn’t even think about doing North Star at night on Odyssey. We sailed in April so it stayed light out a lot later and we were busy then with other activities, but I’ll make time for an after dark ride the next time we’re on a Quantum class ship. 

CFKACD, I’m here! I’ve been patiently waiting for you to begin. I’ve been very impressed with all of your pictures so far. My favorites at this point are the Odyssey all lit up at night, that up close and personal mooring line shot, and I think that was you flying on iFly! I also loved seeing the Christmas decorations you’ve shown so far as our cruise on Odyssey was this past April, thus there were no Christmas decorations to be seen.

I loved the canal pics, Norris! Thank you!

The Panama Canal is one of my bucket list trips. I will get there, hopefully soon.

Allure April 29, 24 (4 day) $81.99.

Allure May 3, 24 (3 day) $76.99. 
 

I’m a bit surprised to see the 4 day mid week sailing priced higher than the 3 day mid week one. They have both been the same price during the time that I’ve been checking.
 

Best price I’ve seen for either of these two sailings was $67.99 and that was with the senior discount that was being offered a few weeks ago. 

This is a bucket list trip for me. I hope I’m able to make it happen one of these days but for now I’m looking forward to sailing virtually along with you.

I loved all the pictures of the birds! Sounds like a place I would enjoy.

I have a question for Carol about Room Service food. When it arrives, is it at an appropriate temperature? Were the hot foods hot?  I love the idea of ordering room service, but after a number of tries early on in our cruising days but after numerous tries to order hot meals and getting cold ones I gave up. Now if I order it will be something like fruit or pastries that don’t need to be hot. At least the water for my tea usually comes hot!

Thank you, @GetToLivin! I really enjoyed your review. 
 

After seeing your pictures, I may consider Mr Sanchos for our next visit to Cozumel. It will be hard to beat the snorkeling at Sky Reef though. We’re not going to be there until September so I’m not rushing into a decision.

On 1/6/2024 at 7:50 PM, Bimmer09 said:

Nancy re the smoking- you may have missed the "Hospital stay ending" of my Celebrity Apex review.

Norris

Norris, I do remember you having pneumonia and being in the hospital following your Apex cruise. I either missed or forgot (easier to do the older I get 😊) about any mention of you stopping smoking. I’m sorry about that At any rate, I’m happy to hear that you’ve stopped and hope that will make your recovery from Covid a little bit easier. I am, as always, thoroughly enjoying your GSJ.

@Deck Chair Queen Carol, I’m sorry to hear that you, too have come down with Covid. Hope your case is mild and your recovery is quick and easy.. Meanwhile, it was interesting to hear a little bit more about your Jamaican heritage. I hope you’re able to get back to Jamaica soon and are able to make your visit to the Great House that you were unable to do on this trip.

Mine too! I’m not planning on spending all the money I’d be saving if it were true, though. 
 

I took screenshots of all of the cruises saying I don’t owe anything. I also made sure that I have good records of what I have paid towards each cruise so that the amounts I actually owe can be verified if necessary. 

On 1/5/2024 at 11:14 AM, Bimmer09 said:

 

NEXT UP   .."another fine lunch you've gotten me into"

( I take an anti smoking drug called Chantix that when it kicks in (just now) I fall asleep within minutes-i.e it is nap time)

 

Norris, I’ve noticed that there was something different about this review, but I hadn’t been able to identify what it was until I read this! I don’t know what motivated you to take what must have been a huge step for you to decide to quit smoking, but I’m very proud of you for doing it and hope that you are able to stay the course. Hang in there, my friend!

I’m sorry your ship wasn’t able to dock in Falmouth, but I’m glad you seem to be having an enjoyable day in Ocho Rios, wet though it may be. As you said, at least it was a warm rain. 

That ATV and beach excursion looks like fun! I liked the look of the beach. I could actually see the beach, not just a bunch of lounge chairs crammed in as close together as they can get them!  🏝️ 

I remember you and your family from your review last year when you had the whole extended family cruising alone with you. Thank you for taking us along with you again.

We will have our first stop in Roatan in September. I loved the resort you went to, so I may make a change in our plans for that day. Your snorkeling videos looked good. Maybe even the deciding factor for us making the switch. I’ll have to ok into it.

Hi Norris! I’m here, and you’re only on page 2 so I’m not too late! I can send you a note to excuse my tardiness if you need it, or maybe just a virtual Guinness will serve in place of a note! 
 

I knew that you and Carol would be cruising at some point around Christmas, but I couldn’t remember exactly when. Something told me to come looking, and there you were! I’m all settled in and will be here for the duration. I can’t wait to see what adventures you and Carol find to go on this time. 😀

I hope both you and Carol are feeling better. I would hate to have to ban you from any future Christmas cruises 😜 so you won’t keep coming home from them sick. I’d much rather see both of you coming home healthy, happy, and excited to tell us all about your cruise.

Carry on, Sir!

Thank you very much for this review, @Rubyfisch. Your photos were terrific. You had some great sunrise and sunset shots, and I loved that you were able to capture some photos that others on this thread recognized! I’m a little late in saying this because the moment is now past, but I hope you had a Happy New Year! 🎊🎆🥂

Thank you very much for doing this review, @h20skibum! I really enjoyed following along with you.
 

I can see why Daryl’s inflatable friends aren’t traveling with you after seeing their picture, but maybe they could go if they were willing to be 😱deflated😱. 😂😂  Ok, they probably wouldn’t like that idea very much, but I do hope to see Daryl included in the fun again!

@Dan83, thank you very much for your contributions to this thread. I only wish you had been able to find Daryl! 🦙